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Russia: Olympic Games versus nature conservation

June 14, 2010

Russia is preparing for the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014. But environmental protectionists are sounding the alarm. The Olympic village is being built in the middle of a nature reserve.

https://p.dw.com/p/NqUU
Image: AP
13.05.2010 DW-TV JOURNAL WIRTSCHAFT MINIREPORTAGE SOTSCHI
The largest contiguous nature reserve in all of Europe and Western Asia lies in the western Caucasus. Part of it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Now the Russians are building infrastructure for the Olympics there, including ski slopes, cross-country tracks, ice hockey stadiums, dormitories, access roads, and parking lots. Environmental protectionists object that unique forests with rare animal and plant species have already been severely damaged.